LMFT, 4 years of experience
Hi, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I support women who feel stuck in unfulfilling relationships, carry the weight of wounds like feeling unseen or not enough, and are exhausted from trying to hold it all together. My purpose is to help you heal your past, build self-trust, and feel empowered to create the life and relationships you desire. With a warm, compassionate approach, we’ll explore what’s been holding you back and work to break free from old patterns. Together, we’ll strengthen your emotional tools and deepen your sense of worth, guiding you toward a more connected, confident, and fulfilling life.
In our first session, what you can expect: ❊ A warm, supportive space where you can feel at ease ❊ An overview of therapy basics, like confidentiality and what to expect ❊ A gentle conversation about what’s bringing you in and what you hope to gain ❊ An open space to share anything that feels important at your own pace ❊ A collaborative approach to explore what matters most to you ❊ In the second session, we’ll start shaping your goals to guide our work together Our first session is about getting to know each other in this therapeutic relationship and beginning to lay the foundation for your healing journey.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to connect with clients in a real and authentic way because I’ve lived many of the same struggles. Like many of the women I support, I was stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, anxiety, and unresolved family wounds, always trying to be “enough.” My own healing journey showed me how powerful therapy can be when you’re given a safe, compassionate space to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface. You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to break old patterns, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll work together to uncover what’s holding you back and build tools to help you: ❊ Set healthy boundaries ❊ Understand and process your emotions ❊ Build more fulfilling relationships ❊ Reconnect with your true, authentic self My approach blends attachment-based, somatic, and holistic techniques, always personalized to your needs, so you can begin creating the life you need and desire.
I specialize in working with women who are self-aware, capable, and hardworking, but underneath it all, are tired of holding it together. I work with women who: ❊ Struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling “not enough” ❊ Put everyone else first and feel guilty asking for what they need ❊ Get stuck in people-pleasing, perfectionism, or overthinking ❊ Feel the impact of attachment wounds or unresolved family issues ❊ Crave a deeper connection in relationships, and with themselves If this sounds like you, know that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep carrying it all by yourself. Therapy with me is a space to breathe, feel seen, and gently untangle the patterns holding you back so you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and care for yourself.
I use an attachment-based approach to help you understand how early relationships, especially with caregivers, shape how you connect, cope, and care for yourself today. This approach is helpful if you struggle with self-doubt, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, feel anxious or disconnected in relationships, carry parent-related pain, or notice recurring patterns in how you cope or seek validation. Through this work, you’ll learn to build secure, healthy relationships, feel more confident and emotionally balanced, set boundaries without guilt, and reconnect with your sense of self-worth. Healing and growth start with understanding your story. You don’t have to stay stuck in old patterns.
Person-centered therapy offers a space where you feel fully seen, heard, and accepted. This approach is helpful if you struggle with self-doubt, low self-worth, people-pleasing, over-performing, feeling disconnected from your needs, or questioning your value in relationships. Through this process, you’ll learn to trust yourself, set boundaries with confidence, release perfectionism and self-criticism, and create a life that feels real and aligned with who you are.
Stress and anxiety live in the body, not just the mind. Somatic therapy helps you tune into your body’s signals to release stress and emotional pain safely. This approach is helpful if you feel anxious, burned out, struggle to set boundaries, put others first, or feel tense and disconnected from yourself. Through gentle body awareness, breathwork, and mindful movement, you’ll learn to regulate your nervous system, feel calmer and more present, process emotions safely, and reconnect with yourself. Together, we create space for your body and mind to heal so you can feel grounded, safe, and in control.
In my practice, I use CBT to help you recognize and shift thought patterns that keep you stuck. This approach is helpful if you struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, anxiety, feel overwhelmed by stress or transitions, or notice recurring negative cycles in relationships. Together, we’ll identify unhelpful thoughts, reframe patterns that fuel stress, build healthier coping strategies, and strengthen confidence and emotional balance. CBT provides practical tools to navigate challenges, build resilience, and feel more in control of your emotions and choices.
I use Narrative Therapy to help you separate your identity from the problems you face and reconnect with your inner strength. This approach is helpful if you feel defined by past pain, trauma, or labels, struggle with self-worth or internalized criticism, or want to rewrite limiting beliefs shaped by early experiences. Together, we’ll explore and reshape the stories you tell yourself, reclaim your voice and values, highlight your strengths and resilience, and create a more empowering narrative. Narrative Therapy helps you honor your experiences while making space for growth, hope, and a more authentic future.
3 ratings with written reviews
August 15, 2025
she was very informative and competent in the content she shared with me and thanked me consistently in my moments of vulnerability which i greatly appreciated.
June 24, 2025
I feel seen/ my partner and I from our couples counseling with Melissa. It is very direct and solution oriented. I leave feeling very thought provoked and hopeful to navigate adverse obstacles with a both thoughful and authentic approach.
May 30, 2025
I really admire Melissa for the structure they offer. I enjoy being able to really dive into why I'm feeling the way I am, why am I reacting this way, what should I do in the future, etc. and to not just find a person to vent to, but to have a person help me with doing the inner work so that I have more agency in my day-to-day life. I left the session feeling very excited and empowered!